Preassembled marker and method of preassembling the same



Jan. 12, 1954 PREASSEMBL B. B. MITCHELL ED MARKER AND METHOD OF PREASSEMBLING THE SAME Filed May 15 1951 INVENTOR.

Patented Jan. 12, 1954 PREASSEMBLED MARKER-AND METHOD OF PREASSEMBLING' Tris,

Burritt B. Mitchell, Niagara Falls, N. Y., assignor to Chi o my r I c, N a a a Falls, N. Y., a corporation of NewYork Application May 15, 1951, Serial No. 226,486-

ZClaims. (Cl. 4 0%125) This invention relates. to preassembled markers and method of preassembling. the same and more particularly to the assembly. of a group of metal characters inpredetermined. relation to one another and in such. manner that they can be conveniently nailed to a. pole or other support in such: relation and havethe structure holding them in such relation readily removed.

In a number of industrial applications it is required that polesor other structures be marked with identical metal characters securely fastened to the structure in specified relation to each other, such specified relation sometimes requiring that a. vertical group or series of characters be fastened in a specified relation to a horizontal group or series of. characters with the characters of each series in specified relation to each other. When individually applied in the field the arrangement of such characters and groups in such specified relation is very time consuming and laborious.

In accordance with the present invention. the

metal letters are preassembled as a factory operation, the preassembl'y being in conjunction with strips adhesively applied to the letters and holding. each group of letters in the specified relation.

One of the principal objects of the present invention is to provide such preformed markers which are firmly held in the specified relation; which can easily be fastened to their supports while in such specified relation; which will not stick together when shipped or transported in groups; in which one group of the preformed markers can be quickly and accurately fastened in specified relation to another group; and in which the strips holding the markers in preassembled relation can readily be completely removed as apart of the field operation of securing the markers to the supports.

Another object of the invention is to provide a process of preassembling such markers which requires the use of low cost materials and in which the preassembly is effected rapidly and at low cost thereby to reduce the cost of the preassembled markers.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following description and. drawing in which:

Fig. 1 is a diminutive top plan View of a preassembled marker made in accordance withthe present invention for applicationof the letters C and O to a pole or the like in specified horizontal relation to a similar marker shown in Fig. 2 which is asimilar top plan view of'a preassembled marker for application of the letters, vertically; It and A tothe pole.

'conv-ex' form. Each of these Fig. 3 is: an enlarged sectional view taken on line 3..3,. Fig. 1.

Fig. 4. is annenlarg'ed elevational view of the groups of letters shown in Figs. 1 and 2 adhered toa pole or the like in the specified relation preparatory to being nailed in place.

I Fig; 5 is a top plan view of a jig for preassembling one of the groups of markers shown in Figs. 1 and.2,.and.having associated therewith the rolls of strip material to be applied to the markers and the gages-and. cutters for insuring the proper length: and. position of the pieces of such strip material when applied to the markers.

Fig. 6' is a vertical section taken on line 6-45, Fig. 5. I

It is. assumed that the specifications for the marking of a polev 4 or the like call for one group X of metal markers comprising the letters E and A each to. be secured in vertical arrangement and a specified distance relative to each other,. and centrally and a specified distance above. a second group Y of metal markers comprising the letters C and 0 each of which letters also. are. required to be spaced a specified distance fromeach-other.

Each of these metal letters is shown as stamped from sheet metal with their body parts: raised relative to their margins so that the metal letters are of concavovided with the usual nail holes 5 ment thereof.

The metal markers of each of the groups X and Y are held in the specified preassembled relafor the attachtion by a relatively narrow, preferably trans-' transparent top strip 6 and preferably extends substantially the full corresponding dimension of the metal {letters soas to protect the letters and prevent displacement thereof relative to the top strip 6. This backing strip also completely covers the adhesive coating 8 so that in transit or use there is no likelihood of the assembled groups of letters sticking together or to anything else.

Another important feature is that where two groups; such as the groups X and Y, are to be placed in; a specified relation to each other, the corresponding top strip 6 must be cut to extend letters is also probeyond the letters, at the corresponding end, the exact distance to satisfy the specification. Thus, referring to Fig. 4, if the A of the vertical group X is required to be placed a specified distance above the top of the letters of the group Y, the downward projection 10 of the top strip 6 of the group X beyond the letter A must exactly conform to such specification.

In applying the lettering to, say, a pole, the

operator first strips off the backing strip 9 of one of the groups of letters, say the group X. This leaves the letters E and A adhering to the transparent front or top strip 6 in preassembled relation. This transparent top strip also has sufficient residual tackiness that it can be adhered to the support l to which the markers are to be applied. Accordingly the operator adheres the transparent front strip 5 to the support 4 with this strip stretched to full height so that the letters are arranged in the specified vertical relation. If the location of the placing is not satisfactory, the top strip 6, with the metal letters E and A attached, can be removed and readhered.

The operator then drives nails through the nail holes 5 into the support.

Assuming that the other group Y must be applied horizontally a specified distance below and in centered relation to the group X so applied, the tail or projection ill of the transparent front strip 6 of the group X has been cut to project from the letter A the distance required to conform to this specification. Accordingly the operator strips off the backing strip 9 of the group Y and places its letters C and against the support 4 in centered relation to and below the group X of the vertical letters E and A and with the upper edges of the lower horizontal letters C and G contacting or alining with the lower end of the projection ill of the top strip 5 of the group X. Since this projection has been out to the specified length, this places the lower horizontal group of letters C and O a corresponding distance below the vertical group of letters E and A. When the group Y of these letters C and O has been properly positioned, nails are driven through the holes of these letters into the support 4.

Thereafter the top strips 6 of both groups X and Y of letters can be torn oif.

The present invention also provides a method of making the above described preassembled markers rapidly and in quantity to produce them at minimum cost. To this end it is preferable to employ the jig illustrated in Figs. 5 and 6 and which comprises a supporting board I2 having a pair of spaced openings i8 therein, the spacing of these openings exactly conforming to the specified spacing of, say, the letters C and O of the group Y. In each of these openings is fitted a tubular holder i l for a stack of corresponding metal letters, these being inserted from the top against a follower block l5 which is urged upwardly by a helical compression spring H3. The lower end of this spring it can seat on a cross piece it across the lower end of the holder it. To releasably hold the top most marker or letter a predetermined distance above the top of the board l2 and at the same height as the top most marker or letter of the companion stack, the holder 14 is shown as extended upwardly to provide a pair of oppositely located spring fingers l9 each offset slightly at its upper end, as indicated at 23, to extend over the pile of markers and hold the uppermost marker 4 against upward movement under the influence of the light spring IE, but having sufliciently light engagement that the uppermost marker can readily be stripped off of the pile.

At the left of the board H, a roll 6a of transparent adhesive tape is mounted on supporting ears 2! and a cross pin 22 so as to aline centrally with the piles of markers in the holders Hi. The width of the roll of tape 6a is the same as the transparent front strips 6 and one side is coated with an adhesive. The adhesive tape from this roll is drawn into engagement with a stop 23 located to the right of the holders l4 and is cut to length by a manually operated paper cutter blade 24 pivoted at one end, as at 25, on the board 12 between the roll to and the adjacent holder 14 and having an operating handle 26. The distance from the stop 23 to the knife blade 24 exactly corresponds to the desired length of the front strips 6 and the spacing of the stop 23 and knife blade M from the holders M is such as to provide any specified extension of the strip 6 from either of the metal end letters or markers.

At the right of the board 52, a roll 9a of backing strip is mounted on supporting ears 28 and a cross pin 29 so as to aline centrally with the piles of markers in the holders 1%. Thewidth of this roll of backing strip is the same as the backing strips 9. The backing strip from this roll is drawn into engagement with the stop 23 and is out to length by a manually operated paper cutter blade 39 pivoted at one end, as at 35, on the board 12 between the roll 5a and stop 23 and having an operating handle 32. The distance from the stop 23 to the knife blade 36 is equal to the distance between this stop and the other knife blade 24.

In carrying out the process a stack of, say, the markers C are placed in the left hand holder 24 and a stack of, say, the letters 0 are placed in the right hand holder It. The spring l5 and follower I5 bias these piles upwardly against the oifsets 2B of the spring fingers 19 so that the uppermost markers of the two piles are located at the same height and a slight distance above the board I2.

The operator then pulls out the end of the roll So of transparent adhesive tape into end engagement with the stop 23 and adheres the intermediate portions thereof to the exposed faces of the uppermost metal markers of the two piles in the holders M, the pulled out end of this tape being with its adhesive side down. The knife 23 is then operated to cut the pulled out end of adhesive tape to the length of the front strip 6.

The operator then pulls out the end of the roll 9a of backing tape into end engagement with the stop 23. He then operates the knife 39 to cut it to the length of the strips 9. He then lifts the cut strip 6 of adhesive tape, with the markers adhesively afiixed to the under side thereof, and places it on top of the cut strip 9 of backing paper with the ends thereof in register withthe ends. The completed preassembled markers are then removed for shipment.

From the foregoing it will be seen that the present invention provides a preassembled marker and method of making the same which is low in cost and easily applied and which accomplishes the various objects heretofore set forth.

I claim:

l. The method of preassembling markers in predetermined spaced relation to one another, which comprises arranging said markers in sep arate piles of identical markers with one pile in said predetermined spaced relation to the other pile and with the uppermost markers of said piles at substantially the same elevation, drawing an adhesive strip over said piles out of contact therewith and a predetermined distance therebeyond, adhering said adhesive strip to said uppermost markers of said piles, cutting said adhesive strip a predetermined distance from its leading end and on the side thereof trailing said markers, cutting a backing strip to a predetermined length at least equal to the length of said adhesive strip, and applying said adhesive strip, with said uppermost markers adhered thereto, to said backing strip.

2. As an article of manufacture, preassembled markers, comprising a group of markers arranged in spaced relation to one another, an adhesive strip extending centrally along said group of markers and adhered to the obverse faces thereof, said adhesive strip being of less width than the corresponding dimensions of said markers thereby to leave opposite portions of the obverse faces of said markers exposed, and a single backing strip extending centrally along said group of markers parallel with all of said adhesive strip in contact with the reverse sides thereof and adhered to said adhesive strip, said backing strip being substantially of a width at least equal to the corresponding maximum dimension of said markers and also of a length at least substantial- 1y equal to and centered with reference to said adhesive strip, whereby said backing strip provides a full backing for said markers and adhesive strip.

BURRI'I'I B. MITCHELL.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,870,221 Babcock Aug. 9, 1932 2,292,272 Hirshfield Aug. 4, 1942 2,307,406 Howard Jan. 5, 1943 2,465,927 Rapp Mar. 29, 1949 

